Christian Brothers High School • Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve
A Message from the Director of Media, Visual & Performing Arts “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened. -Genesis Chapter 3, vs. 6-7
APRIL 2016
SPRING SEMESTER Christian Brothers High School Monthly Newsletter
www.cbhs-sacramento.org
students benefit from videos of their skits in class and analyzing their movement on stage, their tone of voice, and facial expression. In fact the whole theater can be run off an iPad. The most beneficial gift of technology is that artists/students can share their work with a worldwide audience with a few clicks on the mouse. No longer do hopefuls have to approach a gallery, agent, or producer and pitch their creations. They can post their work on line and let the galleries, agents, and producers come to them. Technology has made the arts more democratic than it ever has been in history. On balance technology has been a great gift to humanity. The amount of information, perspectives, and wisdom available to average people is astonishing. What would you like to learn? There is a video to show you how. A generation ago you needed to be a scholar with access to a special library to undertake any serious research, and it could take years of study to go through all the paper books and articles. Now a smart phone connects you with all the current information and it can be done so quickly. Some kids are on their devices too much, and we must remember that device is connecting them with another human being. They could be communicating with someone half way across the world, but overwhelmingly they are texting their friends and family. Communication has blossomed because of smart phones thus allowing us to form deeper bonds. Has it ever been easier to stay in touch with our loved ones? It has been my experience that this generation is remarkably tolerant, kind and generous, and not people who don’t know how to converse with each other. Some fear we are losing the human touch, but really it is enabling us to be more human with more people. A great blessing.
INSIDE
I have a rocky relationship with technology. My wireless devices can sense that I was born in an era when nine planets circled the sun, and it feels like they mock my ignorance. I have come a long way in improving my computer skills and fortunately we have excellent tech support at Christian Brothers. I can always ask the kids who seem to instinctually understand how it works. Still, I don’t completely trust technology. I suspect Siri gets all her “facts” from the internet and her directions are sometimes perplexing. Once I clearly asked for directions to the Sacramento River Cats and Siri “heard” Sacramento River rats and tried to drive me into the river. I think she did it on purpose. The kids on the other hand are so comfortable with technology. How do they learn it so quickly? In my art classes they listen to music while making art from images found on the internet or pictures they have taken with their phone. They talk with Siri as if they are BFF (best friends forever), although I was secretly glad when Siri turned down Howard’s invitation to go to the prom with him. It’s comforting that I’m not the only one who has trouble with her. Many of people of my generation believe that all this technology and the kids’ love of their devices is unhealthy. Technology has made the world less personable and warm. It is ruining people’s social skills. I don’t see it that way. Technology has been a boon for the arts. In addition to listening to their favorite music, student artists can take a picture on their phone, project the image on a canvas of any size, make any needed edits, and pencil in the basic composition. Our Ceramic classes are all flipped: instead of a lecture in class, the students watch an instructional video created by the teacher as their homework, and come to class ready to put into practice what they learned the night before. Paper sheet music is becoming a thing of the past, and the number of music apps to help tune an instrument, record a song, or find the right pitch grows every day. You can also text your classmates what time dress rehearsal is held. Theater
Findlay McIntosh, Director Media, Visual & Performing Arts
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